Head of Logistics

Save the Children is the world's leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children's lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

Job Title: Head of Logistics
Location: Abuja
The Organisation
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.
We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children. We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.
Role Purpose

• The Head of Logisitics will lead on responding to and managing the growing needs within the Nigeria programme for effective core logistics capacity to support ongoing development programmes and emergency response interventions.
• In this to ensure that all logistics policies and procedures of Save the Children are strictly adhered to and also to ensure that Save the Children’s commitment to improving quality and accountability in development and humanitarian work is upheld, through reference to the Sphere Standards, Save the Children Quality Framework Essential Standards and the NGO Code of Conduct.

Key Areas of Accountability
Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with Save the Children’s minimum standards and procedures related to logistics. This includes reviewing and updating as necessary the in-country procedures and policies for the management of the supply chain, vehicle fleet, stock and assets management, communication systems, and emergency preparedness;
• Ensure the due diligence process and vetting of all vendors and suppliers being contracted by Save the Children;
• Comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to child protection, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies.

Systems Development:

• To ensure that the following systems are put in place and are working effectively;
• Centralise/Decentralise the programme supply chain by setting up an effective order management system at Head Office level for international orders;
• Local, national and international procurement practices are compliant with Save the Children International and donor regulations;
• International and national transportation of freight by land, sea and air is in line with programme budgets and needs, ensuring the most cost effective and reliable means of transport is used for the timely delivery of supplies to projects;
• Management of vehicle fleets is in line with Save the Children International standards, ensure appropriate allocation and safe use of vehicles throughout the programme and ensure servicing and maintenance schedules are adhered to;
• Centralised and transit storage at Head Office level is maintained in line with programme requirements.
• Monitor storage and issue of transit and centralised stocks, ensuring the re-allocation of emergency stocks to project budgets after issue to the field;
• Stock management and administration systems are implemented throughout the programme. Monitor projects stock levels and advise on appropriate stocking and replenishment to meet project demands;
• In consultation with the Head of Safety and Security and State/Area Managers, ensure that the programme’s communication systems in all programme locations work effectively and ensure standardisation of all communication equipment throughout the country;
• Ensure a centralised programme asset register is maintained, ensuring that all programme assets are logged, issued with unique Save the Children International asset numbers and ID cards, and are tracked throughout the Programme country.

Operational capacity strengthening:

• In close collaboration with the Director of Programme Operations, the Deputy Director of Programmes Operations and State/Area Managers;
• Ensure the programme as a whole has the capacity to manage effective core logistics and has the capacity to gear up logistics capacity to respond effectively to emergencies and a growing portfolio;
• Participate in the development of all new proposed interventions providing overviews of logistics requirements in the development of project proposals and subsequent projects.
• Develop the logistical aspects of the programme emergency preparedness plan;
• Actively participate and contribute to the development of our Country Annual Plan. Actively contribute to the CAP review exercises as well as to the quarterly award management meetings;
• Ensure the consolidation and dissemination of timely and high quality logistics reports – internal and donor reports;
• Provide direct management support, training and mentoring to the Nigeria Logistics Department at Head Office and State levels.

Liaison and Networking:

• Liaise closely with the Logistics Unit in Dakar and in London, and in general to support head office initiatives around global logistics systems, as required;
• Participate in the INGO logistics cluster meetings held in Abuja and represent Save the Children’s position and interests;
• Liaise with government departments, local administrations, UN Agencies and other local and international NGOs as necessary.

Staff management, mentorship and development:

• Ensure appropriate staffing within Logistics, including sub office staff;
• Ensure that all staff understand and are able to perform their role in an emergency;
• Manage Logistics team; define expectations, provide leadership and technical support as needed, and evaluate direct reports regularly;
• Ensure the recruitment, training, and promotion of staff as appropriate and ensure availability of appropriate professional development opportunities for staff;
• Incorporate staff development strategies and Performance Management Systems into team building process. Establish result based system and follow up;
• Manage the performance of all staff in the Logistics work area through;
• Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measureable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations;
• Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities;
• Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance;
• Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/work plans.

Information Technology:

• Ensure appropriate management of all telecommunications assets (trouble-shooting) and computers;
• Work closely with the IT manager to ensure in time replacements of IT equipment as per the SCI policies;
• Ensure support systems in place in terms of Internet, computer use and user support in the entire mission;
• From time to time, work with IT manager to set priorities and support needs in terms of IT to other offices;
• Help the IT manager identify needs of replenishing old IT assets, proposing purchases for new IT assets etc;
• Update the DPO/Dep DPO on all IT management related issues.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential:

• At least 7 years of International experience - of which at least 4 years with an INGO - in supply chain management, inclusive of procurement, transport and distribution, warehouse and stock management;
• Strong experience in vehicle and fleet management;
• Robust experience of NGO project cycle management and experience of working within a complex and matrix organisation structure;
• Master's degree in Logistics, MBA or any other relevant degree coupled with good work experience in Logistics and supply chain management;
• Experience of building and developing the capacity of logistics staff through the use of training, performance management frameworks and development plans;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills;
• Strong analytical skills and capacities to plan and think strategically;
• Fluency in written and spoken English;
• Proficiency with Excel and Word platforms.

Desirable:

• Experience in distributions of both NFIs and food items in emergency context;
• Working experience in Nigeria and/or West Africa;
• Ability and willingness to change work practices and hours, and work with various incoming teams in the event of major emergencies;
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles, including rights-based approaches.

Note: We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse